Source for Afaq News: Netanyahu Informed the UAE President About Information Regarding Iran's Nuclear Program

- An Israeli source familiar with the meeting informed the Ofoq News network that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during a visit to the country on Sunday about new Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran is resuming the development of its nuclear program. Among the information revealed by Netanyahu were details regarding new construction activities at the "Jabal al-Fas" site, located about 225 km south of the Iranian capital, Tehran, which is viewed as a key site for potential Iranian efforts to rebuild its nuclear program.

An Israeli source familiar with the visit stated to Ofoq News on Sunday that the meeting primarily focused on discussing the Iranian file, an area where the two countries have strengthened their cooperation, including during the current war related to Iran. For its part, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) confirmed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu held a meeting in the country, noting that they discussed "the bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to enhance and develop them."

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that the meeting focused on "strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges." The office mentioned that the visit included Netanyahu's wife, the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, a military secretary, and a political advisor.

A senior Saudi security official also attended the meeting, according to two sources familiar with the visit who spoke to Ofoq News. According to one of the sources, the discussions also addressed recent regional developments, including the Houthi militia file in Yemen, the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, as well as the Strait of Hormuz.

The source added that Netanyahu stated during the meeting that Israel estimates that Iran may launch an attack in the region in the coming weeks. This rare visit came exactly one month before the scheduled Israeli elections on October 27, amid intense political controversy in Israel sparked by reports published by the newspapers "Haaretz" and "The New York Times," which claimed that "Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a major operation planned by Hamas, just days before the October 7, 2023 attack."

In a separate report, The Atlantic magazine stated that the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, flew to Israel on September 26, 2023, to warn that the situation in Gaza would "explode." The Wall Street Journal also reported on Sunday that Egypt had issued at least three warnings to Israel regarding Gaza, the last of which was through a phone call with Netanyahu just a few days before the attack.

Netanyahu's position Netanyahu has repeatedly denied receiving any warning and dismissed the reports as fabricated lies aimed at harming him electorally. The Prime Minister wrote on the X platform on Monday: "I have never met with the head of Egyptian intelligence nor spoken to him before October 7, and I did not receive any warning."

He added: "Foreign and hostile countries and entities - including Arab countries - stand behind these false and inciting claims." However, his opponents have exploited these claims to make accountability for the failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 attack a central issue in their electoral campaign.

Following initial reports of a warning from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier this month that it "does not comment on media reports or speculation regarding discussions between government leaders," but it did not deny that the call took place. The statement read: "When necessary, all relevant intelligence information is exchanged between the concerned parties."

Neither Israel nor the UAE referred to the reported warning regarding October 7 in their statements issued on Monday about Netanyahu's visit. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's opponents have used the mentioned warning to renew their attacks on how he handled the events leading up to October 7.

Gadi Eisenkot - who current opinion polls indicate is the main competitor to the Prime Minister in the upcoming Israeli elections - stated on Saturday that the revelation of the warning "leaves no room for doubt that Netanyahu has led the State of Israel - due to blindness, arrogance, and irresponsibility - towards the greatest disaster in its history." In May, Netanyahu's office stated that the Prime Minister had secretly visited the UAE in March - during the early days of the war with Iran - describing it as a "historic breakthrough"; however, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this claim at the time, describing it as "completely untrue."

It is also said that Israel deployed the "Iron Dome" missile defense system in the UAE during the war, and Israeli officials stated that security cooperation between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels.